Comparative Analysis of the Young Protagonists in John Updike's "A & P" and James Joyce's "Araby"
Comparative Analysis of the Young Protagonists in John Updike's "A & P" and James Joyce's "Araby"
Both John Updike's "A & P" and James Joyce's "Araby" feature young male protagonists who experience moments of personal awakening. Although set in different contexts—rural America in the mid-20th century and early 20th-century Dublin—both stories revolve around themes of desire, disillusionment, and self-awareness. The protagonists in both stories embark on journeys of self-discovery, driven by their idealistic perceptions of the world, only to face the painful reality of growing up and confronting the limitations of their lives. This analysis will compare and contrast the personal growth, motivations, and cultural context of the young protagonists in each story.
1. Character Profiles and Motivations
The Protagonist in "A & P" (Sammy):
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Character Overview: Sammy is a 19-year-old boy working as a cashier at the A & P grocery store. He’s in the process of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, caught between the innocence of youth and the harsh reality of adulthood. Sammy is eager to impress the girls and exhibits a certain rebelliousness against the mundane, everyday life he leads in his small town. He is somewhat cynical about his job and the world around him.
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Motivation: Sammy’s primary motivation is to impress the girls, particularly Queenie, who enters the store with her two friends dressed in bathing suits. His impulsive decision to quit his job in protest of the store manager’s treatment of the girls reflects his desire to be seen as courageous and individualistic. However, his decision is also influenced by a broader dissatisfaction with the conformity of the town and his job. His desire for freedom and excitement clashes with the ordinary, predictable life he is expected to lead.
The Protagonist in "Araby" (The Boy):
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Character Overview: The protagonist in "Araby" is a young, unnamed boy, who is about 12 years old and lives in a dull and dreary neighborhood in Dublin. The boy is in the midst of adolescence, experiencing the complexities of love and desire for the first time. His obsession with his friend's sister, Mangan’s sister, becomes the central focus of his life. He imagines that by buying her a gift at the bazaar (the Araby market), he can prove his love and escape the drabness of his environment.
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Motivation: The boy’s motivation is rooted in his idealistic love for Mangan’s sister. He dreams of heroically bringing her a gift from the bazaar, envisioning the act as a gesture that will transcend the mundane reality of his life. His journey to the Araby bazaar represents an attempt to escape the confines of his ordinary life and prove his worth through a grand, romantic gesture.
2. Themes of Desire and Disillusionment
Desire in "A & P":
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Sammy’s Desire: Sammy’s desire is primarily sexual and romantic, centered on his attraction to the girls, especially Queenie. However, his desire is not just about sexuality; it’s also tied to a longing for excitement, rebellion, and a life that feels more alive and authentic than his current existence in the mundane world of the A & P store. His impulsive act of quitting his job reflects his desire to break free from the conformity and predictability of his life.